An ad hoc committee formed to discuss the removal of the Ode to Newfoundland from Memorial University's convocation ceremonies has been meeting for a full year and no decision has been made yet. Some alumni and students are concerned and think the university may be overusing resources on the issue.

Crews with St. John’s Regional are currently on the scene of a fire in Donovan’s Industrial Park.

The blaze broke out at the commercial property on Dundee Avenue just before 5 a.m.

Plumes of black smoke can be seen billowing from the area.

VOCM News is following the story and will have more information as it becomes available.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau topped off a chaotic day in Ottawa today by addressing a group of Liberals at a holiday fundraiser in which he acknowledged an eventful day that was not easy.

It was eventful to say the least, starting with the surprise resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland just hours before the fall economic statement.

Trudeau addressed the Laurier Club in Gatineau just after 9:30 following a long day of cabinet and caucus meetings, fending off calls from the opposition parties and even fellow Liberals, for his resignation.

In a speech that lasted 10 minutes, Trudeau offered no immediate hints that he plans to step down, telling fellow Liberals he will continue to fight for Canadians.

He called it a privilege to be able to serve his country.

“There is no place I’d rather be than Canada, and it is the absolute privilege of my life to serve as your Prime Minister. Now Canada is the best country on earth, but it’s not perfect. That’s why I wake up every single day thinking about how to make this nation work better for all Canadians,” he said.

Western nations criticized North Korea for sending troops to fight alongside Russia in Ukraine, calling it a dangerous escalation. Ukraine reported dozens of North Korean casualties and vowed to defend against them with international support. UK, US, and other nations issued a joint statement condemning the DPRK-Russia military cooperation. (UPI)

Seven foreign tourists, including an American, fell ill after drinking pina coladas at a Fiji resort, displaying symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Four Australians, one American, and two others were hospitalized. Authorities are investigating the cause, ruling out methanol poisoning. Most patients were discharged, with two in stable condition. (CBS News)

A shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin, resulted in the deaths of a teacher, a teenage student, and the teen suspect. Six others were injured, with two students in critical condition. The motive is unclear, and the suspect used a handgun. Police are investigating the incident. (ABC News)

A New York judge denied Donald Trump’s request to dismiss his guilty verdict on presidential immunity grounds, stating that he is not protected by immunity due to his election win. "This court does not agree," the judge wrote. The ruling involves Trump's conviction related to hush money payments made by his lawyer before the 2016 election. (NBC News)

TikTok asked the Supreme Court to block the federal law threatening to ban the app unless its parent company sells it by January 19th. Content creators and users support the plea. President-elect Trump is also seemingly showing support for TikTok, reportedly meeting with CEO Shou Zi Chew at Mar-a-Lago on Monday. (AP)

It appears that the most tumultuous day in Ottawa in a long time will end with Justin Trudeau still the Prime Minister.

The Liberal caucus met for about an hour, with Chrystia Freeland in on the meeting. She sent things in a tailspin with her sudden departure from Cabinet on the very day that she was to deliver the Fall Economic Statement.

Media are saying that Trudeau is only saying that he is looking forward to the Christmas Party tomorrow night.

Caucus members are not revealing what was said at that caucus meeting, a stance which is consistent in our parliamentary system regardless of the party in power.

It looks like the next rounds will be played out later – perhaps after the holidays.

The Canada Post strike will end tomorrow morning, as the 55,000 striking workers have been ordered back to work by the Federal Government.

As NTV’s Ryan Harding reports, locally, emotions are running high with still more questions than answers.

French-language sports network RDS is reporting that the Quebec-Maritimes Junior Hockey League will come back to st. john’s.

Sources are telling RDS that a group of three businessmen will announce the deal either in a few days or early in the new year. RDS is reporting that the Acadie-Bathurst Titan has been sold for more than $5.5 million.

The team will move from New Brunswick to St. John’s to play at Mary Brown’s Centre for the 2025-26 season.

RDS says the team will be operated by Glenn Stanford, whose experience in hockey goes all the way back to the St. John’s Maple Leafs.

The last Quebec league team to play in St. John’s was the Fog Devils, who moved away after just 3 seasons in 2008.

Photo Credit: Titan d’Acadie-Bathurst (Facebook page)

When the new Corner Brook hospital opened in June, it included a piece of state-of-the-art equipment designed to streamline the processing of lab samples.

NTV’s Don Bradshaw has more.

An inclusive Christmas party tradition took place over the weekend in Torbay, providing a safe and fun space for residents and friends of the community to get into the festive spirit. Here’s a look.

The House of Assembly is set to open for a special sitting on January 6th, so MHA’s can review the new Churchill Falls MOU.

Today, Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham wrote the Premier, asking for an all-party committee to determine the rules and process for debate on the memorandum of understanding. 

Here’s more on that in the Inside Story. 

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business still has concerns over the GST holiday, which began over the weekend.

The CFIB has been told that businesses don’t need to comply with the tax holiday, and some multi-nationals have already said they won’t be participating.

Cabinet minister and west coast MP Gudie Hutchings says understands that the CFIB might still have issues with tax break, but overall, she’s getting good feedback.

“I’m going to tell you…on the street, I’m hearing phenomenal things about it,” she said.

The federal deficit is projected at $61.9-B, up from $40-B projected in last year’s budget. Ottawa says a lot of that is comprised of one-time expenses which had to show up in this year’s figures.

The federal government is promising to spend $1.3 billion over six years to beef up Canada’s border security but still won’t say exactly how that money will be spent. The figures are part of the government’s fall economic statement which was tabled in the House of Commons this afternoon in Ottawa.

The Fall Economic Statement contains about $24-B in new spending over the next six years.

The most costly item is the $17-B for the Business Investment Incentive.

People who worked last year and earned less than $150,000 net income were promised $250 in April, but that measure is not contained in the statement.

Dominic LeBlanc is being sworn in as new finance minister. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is meeting with his caucus tonight.

Some residents in Conception Bay South are without water Monday evening due to an emergency disruption to repair a break in the transmission water main in the Anchorage Road area. 

Avalon MP Ken McDonald is joining the chorus of shocked Canadians following Chrystia Freeland's scathing resignation from the federal Liberal cabinet on Monday.

Inside a Mount Pearl office building, Green Farm N.L. runs a food growing operation that produces leafy greens, herbs and microgreens no matter the season.

Just as the energy and communications sectors call for stiffer penalties for the theft of copper wire, RCMP in Whitbourne are investigating the theft of copper wire from an NL Hydro communications site on the Trans Canada Highway near Long Harbour.

RCMP were contacted on Tuesday, December 10th. Surveillance images showed three masked perpetrators arriving on the scene in an SUV around 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 8th.

The suspects forced their way inside a gated area and stole a quantity of copper wire.

Photo via RCMP

The vehicle used is described as dark in colour with a driver-side tail light that was not working.

Industry officials told the Senate Committee on Transport and Communications last week that the incidence of copper wire theft has skyrocketed in recent years and while tighter security is in place, they’re calling on Ottawa to impose stiffer sentences and penalties.

With a new Churchill Falls deal between Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec in the works, leaders in the Big Land say they want to ensure the people they represent benefit, too.

Four people have been arrested after a piece of heavy equipment was used to smash open the RBC bank branch in Holyrood early this morning.

RCMP were called around 3:45 this morning, and arrived to find the backhoe used abandoned at the scene.

Terry, who lives nearby, told VOCM News this morning that he woke up to three loud bangs.

Officers received information that two other vehicle, a dump truck, and a pickup, were involved in the crime and fled the scene.

The RNC were called for assistance and a short time later, members of the Constabulary stopped the suspect vehicles heading east on the Trans Canada near Paddy’s Pond.The dump truck and pickup were seized and an ATM was recovered from the dump truck. The back hoe, which was stolen from a Holyrood business, was also seized as part of the investigation.

Charges are pending.

The Mayor of Holyrood, Gary Goobie, told VOCM News he’s ‘frustrated and disturbed” by the act, saying his community will take it “step by step” going forward.

The Policing Transformation Working Group is seeking the public’s input to help shape the future of policing services in the province.

The Working Group developed a detailed survey as part of public engagement efforts to hear from residents. The survey was developed with feedback from several community partners. The 20-minute voluntary survey is confidential and anonymous. Only overall results will be shared.

A link to the survey can be found here https://www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2024/jps/1216n02/.

The survey will be available until January 22nd.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says what’s happening in Ottawa today is a strong illustration of the importance of premiers working together for the benefit of Canadians.

The Council of the Federation met in Toronto today while the political drama unfolds in Ottawa.

Host Premier Doug Ford – who last week promised a strict and swift response should threatened tariffs be imposed on Canadian goods bound for the United States – says today’s discussions focused on Canada/US relations, energy security, and speeding up approvals for life-saving medications.Ford says the premiers agree that the most pressing risk to the Canadian economy is the threat of US tariffs.

“The imposition of tariffs, would be a significant failure on the part of the federal government. To protect workers, we need a full Team Canada approach. That means that the federal government needs to do better in engaging premiers as it deals with a threat of tariffs, with regular meetings with the Prime Minister and whoever is on his team that takes the role in US relations.”

A man who police on Bell Island say provided breath samples that were twice the legal limit, has a date set with the courts on impaired driving charges.

RCMP pulled over a commercial truck shortly after midnight on Saturday morning. The driver showed signs of impairment and was taken to the detachment to provide breath samples.

His license has been suspended. RCMP says an investigation into the status of insurance on the vehicle is underway.

Avalon MP Ken McDonald said he was extremely surprised to hear the news of both Chrystia Freeland resigning from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s cabinet, as well as Housing Minister Sean Fraser announcing he will not be running in the next federal election.

McDonald says it will be very difficult to replace both Freeland and Fraser. He was surprised by the news because he says it was only last week that both were answering questions in the House of Commons, seemingly in full support of Trudeau.

McDonald was one of about two dozen Liberal MPs who signed a letter this fall calling on Trudeau to resign.

When asked if he still has confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, McDonald said: “Right now I would say yes. I’ve always said if the Prime Minister decides to leave, it’s his decision.”

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre says the country is watching the federal government “spiral out of control.”

Poilievre told reporters in Ottawa that the news came mere hours before Freeland was to deliver a fall economic update.

“That (update) was expected to smash through her already massive deficit targets, she announced she no longer has confidence in the Prime Minister.” He says “Canadians were already anxious about the reckless $40 billion deficit the government announced last spring. But today, in mere hours, they’re expected to learn that it was much higher than that, threatening our social programs and our fiscal stability right in the middle of a potential trade war.”

Poilievre says Trudeau must call an election and let Canadians decide who should run the country.

“Eighty per cent of Canadians have lost confidence in this prime minister, so why is Jagmeet Singh making the entire country wait for him to get his pension? That is the question today.”

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh meanwhile issued a release saying the “withering resignation of Trudeau’s right-hand minister shows just how deeply this Liberal governments members are obsessed with infighting, and ignoring the urgent challenges everyday Canadians are coping with.”

Avalon MP Ken McDonald had high praise for Chrystia Freeland, who resigned Monday as federal finance minister via a scathing letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. McDonald said he didn’t have an inkling of any issues between the two politicians, but said Freeland is a very smart person.

The House of Assembly will reconvene in three weeks to debate the MOU with Quebec.

During last week’s news conference, Premier Andrew Furey announced that the multi-billion dollar agreement would be debated in the provincial legislature.

That is something both PC Leader Tony Wakeham and NDP Leader Jim asked for ahead of the announcement.

Government House Leader John Hogan has asked the speaker to open the House on January 6th for the debate.

Newfoundland and Labrador's legislature will open again in January, so that politicians can hash out the details of a sweeping tentative agreement with Quebec on hydro power. 

A man wanted by Glovertown RCMP has been arrested.

Thirty-one-year-old Brendan Bungay who was wanted on two counts of assault, and one count each of unlawfully being in a dwelling and uttering threats.

He was arrested on Sunday.

RCMP in Happy Valley-Goose Bay are seeking the public’s help in identifying a suspect captured on surveillance video in connection with an unusual theft from the NorthMart on Hamilton River Road.

Police were called after someone entered the story on the morning of Wednesday, December 11th, walked up to a Starlink satellite kit, grabbed it, and walked out of the store without paying.

The suspect, who was wearing a dark coat and grey hoodie left the scene on foot.

Anyone with information is asked to contact RCMP in Happy Valley-Goose Bay or Crime Stoppers.

RDS in Quebec is reporting that the deal is done to bring a Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League team to St. John’s.

While the exact price is not yet known, it’s being reported that the Acadie-Bathurst Titan has been sold for around $5.5 million, with the relocated team playing in the Mary Browns Centre by the 2025-26 season.

The leauge held a board of governors meeting last week, where it’s believed the fate of the team was decided.

It’s reported that teams will fly from Halifax to St. John’s to play two-game stints, and St. John’s is expected to be on the road eight to 10 times a year.

St. John’s was the home of the QMJHL Fog Devils from 2005 to 2008.

An official announcement about the sale has not yet been made.

The hearts of Newfoundlanders have grown three sizes this holiday season, as a Grinch impersonator has taken over a St. John's mall — and gone viral with more than a million TikTok followers.

Aboriginal people living on the coast of Labrador are calling on government to include them in any future expansion of hydro capacity. Specifically, the Nunatsiavut Government wants the authorities to avoiding repeating past mistakes, especially regarding how land is prepared for flooding.

They worry about the downstream health and environmental effects from Gull Island, namely the buildup of methylmercury caused by rotting vegetation.

The communities in question rely on diesel generation, but they would like to have access to the hydro grid for as cleaner and more stable supply of power.

The Holyrood branch of the Royal Bank of Canada has been destroyed in what appears to be another smash and grab theft by using heavy machinery, residents of the area say.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has resigned from federal cabinet.

In a letter posted to Twitter, Freeland writes that Trudeau no longer wanted her to serve as Finance Minister, and offered her another position in cabinet.

Freeland has resigned from Cabinet, however she says she will continue to service as a Liberal Member of Parliament, and will run again in the next federal election.

Pictures of the RBC in Holyrood are circulating on social media, where it appears a backhoe was used to cause extensive damage to the bank.

A loader could be seen outside of the building early Monday morning.

NTV News has learned some arrests have been in connection to this event. We will have more information as it becomes available.

Federal Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland has resigned from the federal cabinet, just hours before she was set to deliver her fall fiscal update.

In a letter to the Prime Minister that she shared on X (formerly Twitter) she referenced a meeting with Justin Trudeau on Friday in which he told her he no longer wanted her to serve as Finance Minister and offered her another position in Cabinet.

See my letter to the Prime Minister below // Veuillez trouver ma lettre au Premier ministre ci-dessous pic.twitter.com/NMMMcXUh7A

— Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) December 16, 2024

She says on reflection, she has concluded that the only “honest and viable path” is to resign from Cabinet.

Rumours have been swirling for some time that Freeland’s position as Finance Minsiter was on shaky ground with the PM reportedly courting former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney to take over the role.

The question now, is will this afternoon’s fall fiscal update come today, and if so, who is delivering it?

As recently as Friday, Freeland defended her position as Finance Minister when questioned by reporters about Trudeau’s meetings with Carney

“I’m proud and grateful to be able to serve int he cabinet of the Prime Minister ” she told reporters on Friday. “I really don’t spend a lot of time focusing on Ottawa gossip, my focus is on doing what I can to serve Canada, and Canadians in what is a really challenging time for our country.”

It’s one of a couple of political bombshells dropped today. The other was federal Housing Minister Sean Fraser’s decision not to run again.

Fraser was at the forefront of a number of major affordable housing initiatives and stimulation programs.

Fraser reiterated his support of the federal Liberal Party, citing a desire to spend more time with his young family.

A St. John's union leader says striking postal workers in his shop are not at all happy about a labour board decision that will force an end Tuesday to a month-long strike.

Premier Andrew Furey will join Canada’s Premiers for the Council of the Federation meeting taking place in Toronto today.

Premiers will focus discussions on economic issues and reaffirm their commitment to working together on plans to strengthen Canada-U.S. relations.

A closing news conference is planned for 3:30 p.m. today.

On Tuesday, Furey will attend a special engagement at the Empire Club of Canada to participate in a national discussion regarding Canada’s energy, resources, and climate. Furey will deliver a keynote address and then join the Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith, for open dialogue and a Q&A session.

The backhoe bandits are at it again, and the damage caused this time around is extraordinary.

Pictures of the RBC in Holyrood shows a loader outside what’s left of the bank building, which is nearly completely demolished.

VOCM News will have more information as it becomes available.

Local CUP-W members are rallying again today outside the offices of MPs Seamus O’Regan and Joanne Thompson in light of the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s finding that the two sides are too far apart for an agreement to be reached realistically before the end of the year.

That means that the workers could be legislated back to work as early as tomorrow.

Local CUP-W President Craig Dyer indicates that doesn’t necessarily mean that the transition will be a smooth one. Dyer says they were expecting more information today at noon, but were thrown off when they received notification this morning. He says emotions on the picket line are high.

“One part that I do know, is that we will be challenging it in court, because what’s after happening is they’ve taken away our right to strike,” says Dyer. “There’s a bag of emotions on the line. They’re upset, angry, defiant, people have suffered five weeks of no pay fighting for the rights of them and everybody else.”

The Newfoundland Rogues suffered their first home defeat of the season on Saturday against the Sudbury Five.

A final score of 114-103 sees the Rogues fall to 6-2 on the season.

This was the second game in as many nights between the two sides splitting the two-game series 1-1.

The Rogues will return to the Mary Brown’s Centre to take on the TBL’s Rhode Island Kraken on December 28th.

A recent Access to Information request conducted by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation has revealed that Global Affairs Canada has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over the last decade on various properties around the world.

Federal Director Franco Terrazzano says their access request was inspired by news over the summer that Global Affairs Canada had purchased a $9 million condo in New York City, without Treasury Board approval.

Terrazzano says that begs the question: what else has Global Affairs purchased? He says what they found surprised them.

It turns out that Global Affairs Canada owns more than 400 properties in over 70 countries, and that they spent $186 million on property around the world in the last decade.

That includes $12.5 million worth of vacant land in Senegal, a $10.2 million chancery in Ukraine and $41 million on three properties in Kabul, Afghanistan that Terrazzano says were eventually abandoned to the Taliban.

Terrazzano calls Global Affairs Canada’s real estate portfolio on the taxpayers’ tab “bloated” and if Canadians aren’t getting real value out of the holdings, then it’s time to sell off the properties.

Motorists travelling in the Galway area can now avail of the new Galway Interchange. The project has been completed. Motorists can now enter and exit Galway via the westbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway. 

The new interchange will help ease traffic congestion on Pitts Memorial Drive, as well as nearby roadways.

The work included the construction of an underpass below the Trans-Canada Highway at Exit 41, as well as ramps and a roundabout on the western side of the highway that will connect to Danny Drive via the underpass.

Premier Francois Legault took to social media this weekend, praising the MOU signed with Newfoundland and Labrador on hydro development a “great day for Quebec.”

A major component of the deal announced last week is the change in the price Quebec pays Newfoundland and Labrador per kilowatt hour of energy generated from the Upper Churchill project from 0.2 cents to 5.9 cents – coupled with an escalator clause.

While better than the measly amount Newfoundland and Labrador had been reaping for the last five decades, it’s still far lower than what Quebec sells the power for on the market.

Une entente historique entre le Québec et Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. pic.twitter.com/riykQYdnfT

— François Legault (@francoislegault) December 15, 2024

Legault says the agreement guarantees Quebec very low rates, and the Quebec government saved almost $200 billion by going this route rather than finding a domestic solution to its power needs.

He told Quebecers that the new MOU, once finalized, will allow his province to see increases in rates of no more than three per cent—explaining to Quebec rate payers that low rates are now set for the next generation.

NL Quick to Launch New Advertising Campaign

Premier Andrew Furey

Newfoundland and Labrador has embarked on an extensive advertising campaign including television and radio ads nationally and locally touting the benefits for this province. Premier Andrew Furey embarked on the ad campaign almost immediately on the heels of the Churchill Falls agreement.

In the ad, Furey directs people to the website ourchapter.ca

“Fifty years of feeling angry and powerless, but now it is our time. We’re now tearing up that contract and regaining our power. We’re getting more development, more jobs and more money. It’s a new future for our kids and grandkids.”

The provincial government is reminding residents living in coastal Labrador communities who are 65 and older to file their 2023 income tax returns by December 31, 2024, to avail of the 2024 Coastal Labrador Seniors’ Food and Heating Supplement.

The annual $500 supplement is available to seniors living in Coastal Labrador communities to help with the cost of food and heating.

There is no requirement for eligible individuals to apply.

Residents who have already filed their tax returns will receive their cheques in the coming weeks.

The Newfoundland Teachers’ Association has a new second-in-command.

Sean Weir has been elected as Vice-President of the NLTA after a province-wide electronic vote. He begins his two-year term next August.

Weir, vice-principal at Bayside Academy in Port Hope Simpson, is currently a member of the provincial executive. He begins his vice-presidency next summer under the presidency of Dale Lambe.